Pelargonium plant named ‘Duegbofbu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Duegbofbu’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; large dark purple-colored double flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEGBOFBU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ivy Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duegbofbu’.

The new Ivy Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Ivy Geranium plants with dark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Ivy Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2008 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number F-18-1618, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number F-20-15, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Ivy Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ivy Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since July, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Ivy Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duegbofbu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duegbofbu’ as a new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large dark purple-colored double flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in branching habit as plants of the new Pelargonium are more freely branching than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Pelargonium and the female parent selection differ slightly in flower color.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Pelargonium are more vigorous than plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Pelargonium and the male parent selection differ slightly in flower color.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium peltatum ‘Tomcat’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Ivy Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Tomcat’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium were taller and more vigorous         than plants of ‘Tomcat’.     -   2. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium had larger leaves than plants         of ‘Tomcat’.     -   3. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium had larger flower umbels than         plants of ‘Tomcat’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Ivy Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Ivy Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duegbofbu’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Pelargonium production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification:     -   -   Pelargonium peltatum.—‘Duegbofbu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number F-18-1618,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium             peltatum identified as code number F-20-15, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant             habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated; vigorous growth             habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with about             three to five basal branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 12 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 29 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 28 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Internode length: About 4.7 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 7.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Roughly orbicular; palmately lobed.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137B; venation, close to 137B. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B; venation,             close to 139D. Zonation pattern: Width: About 1.7 mm. Color:             Close to 131A. Petiole: Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;             umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong             peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit, about 17 to 18             flowers per umbel.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in             outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany, flowering is             continuous from spring throughout the summer until the             autumn; plants begin to flower about eight weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 10.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.3 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 8.6 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five to six, arranged in             a single whorl. Length: About 2.8 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm.             Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 187A; color does not change with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 187B.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About seven. Length: About             2.6 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 187B; color does not change             with development. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 187D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 3.2 mm. Shape:             Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Margin: Entire. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 18.5 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.9 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About six. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther color: Close to 187A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower:             One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape: Crested.             Stigma color: Close to 59A. Style length: About 4 mm. Style             color: Close to 2D. Ovary color: Close to 138B to 138C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Ivy Geranium. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ivy     Geranium plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have been     observed have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Duegbofbu’ as illustrated and described. 